Stephen Selwyn Harding
Encyclopedia
Stephen Selwyn Harding was the Governor of the Utah Territory
for the Liberal Party
in 1862 and 1863 and was chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court
from 1863 to 1865. Harding was an ardent abolitionist.
, New York
on February 28, 1808, the eldest son of David and Abigail Harding. In 1820 he moved with his family to Ripley County, Indiana
. He studied law in the office of William R. Morris in Brookville, Indiana
and became licensed to practice law on March 17, 1828. He then opened a law office in Richmond, Indiana
which remained open for six months when he opened one in Versailles, Indiana
. He married Avoline Sprout on October 31, 1830. The couple had ten children.
in 1862. Soon after he took office he issued a blanket pardon for all Morrisites convicted in connection with the Morrisite War
. He also initially tried to appease the Mormon
community but soon became critical of church leaders and the practice of plural marriage
. This resulted in a successful petition for his removal from office. He was then appointed as U.S. consul at Valparaíso, Chile; he decided instead, for domestic reasons, to serve as chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. In 1865 he was removed from office for alleged incompetence and immorality. He died on February 12, 1891 in Milan
, Ripley County, Indiana
and was buried in Old Milan Cemetery.
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Utah)
The Liberal Party, like the People's Party, flourished in Utah Territory as a local political party in the latter half of the 19th century—before Democrats and Republicans established themselves in Utah in the early 1890s....
in 1862 and 1863 and was chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court
Colorado Supreme Court
The Colorado Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Colorado. Located in Denver, the Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices.-Appellate jurisdiction:...
from 1863 to 1865. Harding was an ardent abolitionist.
Early years
Harding was born in PalmyraPalmyra (town), New York
Palmyra is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 7,672 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city Palmyra in Syria....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on February 28, 1808, the eldest son of David and Abigail Harding. In 1820 he moved with his family to Ripley County, Indiana
Ripley County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,523 people, 9,842 households, and 7,273 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile . There were 10,482 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
. He studied law in the office of William R. Morris in Brookville, Indiana
Brookville, Indiana
Brookville is a town in Brookville Township, Franklin County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,625 at the 2000 census. The town is the county seat of Franklin County.-Geography:...
and became licensed to practice law on March 17, 1828. He then opened a law office in Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
which remained open for six months when he opened one in Versailles, Indiana
Versailles, Indiana
Versailles is a town in Johnson Township, Ripley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,113 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Ripley County.-Geography:Versailles is located at...
. He married Avoline Sprout on October 31, 1830. The couple had ten children.
Political career
He stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana in 1842 and for Governor of Indiana in 1846. He was appointed Governor of Utah Territory by Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
in 1862. Soon after he took office he issued a blanket pardon for all Morrisites convicted in connection with the Morrisite War
Morrisite War
The Morrisite War was a skirmish between a Latter Day Saint sect known as the "Morrisites" and the Utah territorial government.-Morrisites:In 1857 Joseph Morris, an English convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah, reported receiving revelations naming him the Seventh...
. He also initially tried to appease the Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
community but soon became critical of church leaders and the practice of plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
. This resulted in a successful petition for his removal from office. He was then appointed as U.S. consul at Valparaíso, Chile; he decided instead, for domestic reasons, to serve as chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. In 1865 he was removed from office for alleged incompetence and immorality. He died on February 12, 1891 in Milan
Milan, Indiana
Milan is a town in Franklin and Washington townships, Ripley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,899 at the 2010 census.The town's name is pronounced differently from the English name for the Italian city of the same name....
, Ripley County, Indiana
Ripley County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,523 people, 9,842 households, and 7,273 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile . There were 10,482 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
and was buried in Old Milan Cemetery.